Basic Facts Basic Facts Official Name: Suomen Tasavalta (fin) Official Name: Suomen Tasavalta (fin) Republiken Finland (swe) Republiken Finland (swe) Form of goverment: Republic, 1919 Form of goverment: Republic, 1919 Capital: Helsinki Capital: Helsinki Helsingfors (swe) Helsingfors (swe) Origin of State: Independent since 1917 Origin of State: Independent since 1917 Population: (2003) Population: (2003) Population Density: 17 per km² Population Density: 17 per km² Religion: Lutheran 85,6 % Religion: Lutheran 85,6 % Eastern Orthodox 1,1 % Eastern Orthodox 1,1 % Official languages: Finnish 92 % Official languages: Finnish 92 % Swedish 6 % Swedish 6 % Currency: Euro Currency: Euro

Climate The Atlantic Ocean, The Gulf Stream The Atlantic Ocean, The Gulf Stream  Temperate climate Summer: Warm, bright Summer: Warm, bright Midnight Sun Midnight Sun Winter: Very cold Winter: Very cold Twilight season Twilight season Low humidity Low humidity  Temperatures feel warmer Considerable temperature variations Considerable temperature variations Rainfall distributed throughout the year Rainfall distributed throughout the year

Lapland

The Lakes About 10% of the total area are lakes. About 10% of the total area are lakes. There are lakes in Finland. There are lakes in Finland. And rapids. And rapids. The largest lake is called Saimaa. The largest lake is called Saimaa.

The Finnish Archipelago islands (>100m²) islands (>100m²) One of the natural trasures of Finland One of the natural trasures of Finland

Breef History Human settlement for more than a years ago. Human settlement for more than a years ago – 1300: Swedish crusades to Finland – 1300: Swedish crusades to Finland. Late 13th century – 1809: Finland as a part of Sweden Late 13th century – 1809: Finland as a part of Sweden 1809: Sweden loses Finland to Russia in the Finnish War. 1809: Sweden loses Finland to Russia in the Finnish War – 1917 Finland as an autonomous part of Russia – 1917 Finland as an autonomous part of Russia. 1917: Revolution in Russia; Finland declares itself independent. 1917: Revolution in Russia; Finland declares itself independent. 1918: Civil War in Finland 1918: Civil War in Finland 1939: The Soviet Red Army attacks Finland. 1939: The Soviet Red Army attacks Finland – 1948: The Finnish forces fight against the Soviet Union – 1948: The Finnish forces fight against the Soviet Union.

Aurora Borealis

The Finnish People Two genetical groups: Two genetical groups: The Finns The Finns The Sami (the Lapps) The Sami (the Lapps) Origins Origins The Finns: “The great bend of the river Volga”. The Finns: “The great bend of the river Volga”. The Sami: Old population, origin not established. The Sami: Old population, origin not established.

Genes of the modern Finns: Genes of the modern Finns: 25 – 50% Baltic 25 – 50% Baltic 25% Siberian 25% Siberian 25 – 50% Germanic 25 – 50% Germanic

Languages Two official languages: Two official languages: Finnish 92 % Finnish 92 % Swedish 6 % Swedish 6 % Finnish ( speakers): Finno-Ugric language Finnish ( speakers): Finno-Ugric language Other Finno-Ugric languages: Other Finno-Ugric languages: Hungarian ( ) Hungarian ( ) Estonian ( ) Estonian ( ) Swedish ( speakers): North Germanic language Swedish ( speakers): North Germanic language Sami: ( speakers): Finno-Ugric language Sami: ( speakers): Finno-Ugric language

Swedish in Finland Swedish speakers in Finland (6%) Swedish speakers in Finland (6%) Came to Finland during the Swedish era of the history of Finland. Came to Finland during the Swedish era of the history of Finland. Official language Official language

Finnish Music The Rasmus The Rasmus HIM HIM Bomfunk Mc´s Bomfunk Mc´s Darude Darude

Sauna About saunas in Finland. About saunas in Finland. One sauna for every three inhabitants. One sauna for every three inhabitants. 70 to 100 degrees celsius 70 to 100 degrees celsius Very healthy Very healthy

Famous Companies

Sport F1 F1 Mika Häkkinen Mika Häkkinen Kimi Räikkönen Kimi Räikkönen Soccer Soccer Jari Litmanen Jari Litmanen Sami Hyypiä Sami Hyypiä Mikael Forssell Mikael Forssell Icehockey Icehockey Teemu Selänne Teemu Selänne Saku Koivu Saku Koivu

Helsinki Capital of Finland Capital of Finland Largest city Largest city inhabitants inhabitants 1,2 mill. In the captal area 1,2 mill. In the captal area Economic and cultural centre Economic and cultural centre

Finnish Food Combines traditional Finnish country food with modern continental cooking Combines traditional Finnish country food with modern continental cooking Spices from both East and West Spices from both East and West Light and healthy food Light and healthy food Different dishes depending on the season. Different dishes depending on the season.

Some facts you possibly didn`t know about Finland

Quality of life Finland is ranked sixth in the latest United Nations survey of quality of life Finland is ranked sixth in the latest United Nations survey of quality of life

Consumption The Finns drink more coffee than any other nation in the world The Finns drink more coffee than any other nation in the world 14 kg of coffee anually, per person 14 kg of coffee anually, per person Ranked third in the world on buying newspapers. Ranked third in the world on buying newspapers. 456 newspapers per 1000 inhabitants 456 newspapers per 1000 inhabitants

Lifestyle Finland (naturally) tops the list in number of saunas Finland (naturally) tops the list in number of saunas Vacation cabins in the archipelago or by a lake Vacation cabins in the archipelago or by a lake

Forest and paper 70% of the area of Finland is covered by forest (highest proportion in the world) 70% of the area of Finland is covered by forest (highest proportion in the world) Second in the world in production and exportation of paper Second in the world in production and exportation of paper